Needle



May 6, 1952 c. E. BROWN ETAL NEEDLE Filed July 23, 1948 IN VEN TOR5 (#ARlES 5. 520 rv/v HEREKR? M. 3/14/77? Patented May 6, 1952 NEEDLE Charles E. Brown and Herbert M. Smith, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 23, 1948, Seri al No. 40,346

it endwise through the eye.

Therefore the major object of this invention is to provide an improved needle which is very easily threaded and which positively and securely holds the thread against becoming disengaged from the eye of the needle.

Another'object of this invention is to provide "a self-threading needle in which the parts forming the eye extend or project in a direction away from the point of the needle or in other words, away from the direction of thrust of they needle so that all possibility of engagement or entanglement with the fabric being sewed is eliminated.

While the inventive concept underlying the invention is capable of embodiment in various mechanical forms, only two of the possible embodiments are for the purpose of illustration shown in the accompanying drawing.

The various objects and important features of our invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a needle con structed in accordance with our invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are fragmentary elevational views showing the successive steps in the threading operation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken at right angles to Figure 3 showing the needle with the thread engaged in the eye, and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figure 1, the numeral I designates the point or front end of the needle, 2 the body of the needle and 3 indicates generally the rear end or eye of the needle.

The part of the needle indicated generally by the reference character 3 comprises laterally spaced side walls 4 and 5 which are spaced from one another. The side wall 4 has an extension 6 having its free end 1 lying adjacent and engaged with the side wall 4 thus forming a closed 5 Claims. (Cl. 2235 102) loop 8. As will be described in threading the needle, the free end I is adapted to besprung away from'the side wall 4 by the thread to permit the entrance of the thread into the loop 8. The other side wall 5 lies in juxtaposition to the adjacent side of the loop and provides an entrant passage through which a length of thread may be inserted into the eye. The side wall 5 is sprung away from the adjacent portion of the loop by the thread during the threading operation. This side wall 5 also acts "in the nature of a guide against which the thread T may be engaged during the threading'operation of the needle.

From the examination of Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be noted that the thread T is first engaged with the top of the loop and the side wall 5 as shown in Figure 1. It is then forced downwardly between the side wall 5 and the extension 5 forming the loop and it is then forced between the free end i of the extension 6 and the adjacent side wall 4 to locate it within the loop 8.

Thus the thread T is positively secured against any disengagement from the eye of the needle because all pull upon the thread due to the thrust of the needle keeps the thread in the outer end of the loop 8. 7

It will also be apparent that the end of the side wall 5 and the free end 1 of the .extension 6 extend in a direction away from the thrust of the needle so that none of these parts are opposed to the thrust to thus become entangled with the fabric being sewed.

This is very important in self-threading needles because many of the prior art devices of this general character have projections or protuberances which are so positioned or arranged that they become entangled with the fabric and prevent the free passage of the needle therethrough. This disadvantage has been entirely eliminated in the present construction.

The modification in Figure 6 is substantially the same as that previouslydescribed except that the free end 1' does not engage the side wall 4 but it is bent in a direction away from the direction of thrust of the needle so that it will not engage the fabric being sewed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: p p

1. A needle comprising a body having a point at one end and an eye at the opposite end having laterally spaced side walls, one side wall having an extension in the form of a loop positioned between the side Walls in substantially the plane of the eye, the free end of the loop throughout a portion of its length lying adjacent the inner surface of the said one side wall and providing a normally closed expansible passage through which a length of thread maybe passed into the loop, the opposite side wall of the eye lying in juxtaposition to the adjacent side of the loop and providing an entrant passagethrough which a length of thread may be passed into the eye.

2. An'eedle comprising a body having a point at one end and an eye at the opposite end having laterally spaced side walls, one side wall having an extension in the form of a closed loop positioned between the side walls in substantially the plane of the eye, the free end of the loop throughout a portion of its length contacting the'inner surface of the said one side wall and adapted to be sprung by the thread away fromsaid side wall to provide a normally closed expansiole cassage through which the thread may be passed into the loop, the oppositeside wall of the eye lying in juxtaposition to. the adjacent side ofthe'loop and adapted to be sprung by the-thread to provide an entrant passage through which a length of thread may be passed for engagement with said loop.

3. A needle coin-prising'a bodyhaving a point at one. end and an eye at the oppositeend having laterally spaced' side walls, one side wall having --an.extension intheform of a'closed loop positioned between the sidewalls in substantially the mplaneof the eye, the free-end of the'loop throughout a portion of its-length contactingthe inner surface of the said: one side wall and adapted to besprung by the thread away fromsaid side a length of thread may be passed for subsequent engagement with said loop.

5. A needle comprising a body having a point at one end and an eye at the other end having laterally spaced side walls, an extension on one of the side walls in the form of a closed loop positioned between the side walls in substantially the plane of the loop and having the free end thereof throughout a portion of its length extending in a direction away from the point and contacting the inner surface of the said one side wall and 1 adapted to be sprung away from said side wall --by the thread to provide a normally closed exwall to provide a normally closed expansible passage through which the thread may be passed -into the loop: the opposite sidewall o the-eye lying in juxtap the loop to initially form a guide for the thread .andadapted to he sprun away from said loop by the thread provide an "entrant passage through which the thread may be positioned for sition-to the adjacent side of engagement withsaid -loop.

4. A-needletcomprising a" body having a point at one-end and an eye at the other end having "laterally spaced side walls, an extension at the top of one ofthe side walls in the form of a closed loop positioned. between the side walls in substantiallythe plane of the loop and having the free "end'thereof throughout a portion ofitslength pansible passage through which a length of thread may be forced into the loop, the side of the loop opposite the free end portionengaging the inner surface of the other side of the eye which is adapted to be sprung away from said loop bythe thread to provide an upwardly opening entrant passage for the thread whereby the thread may be positioned for subsequent engagement with said loop.

- .CHARLES E. BROWN. HERBERT M. SMITH.

REFERENGES CITED .The following references are ofrecord in .the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name l Date 17,272 Garvey May 12, 1857 653,886 Roberts July/17., 1900 1,533,725 Dziuk June 28, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,615 Great Britain 1890 2.160 Great Britain 1857 

